As I mentioned in my last blog post, I have wanted to become a vocal teacher for a long time.  When my first vocal teacher Leah moved away, I began taking lessons with Dean Kaelin in Holladay, UT.  My first lesson with him he asked me, “What do you want to do with your singing?” and I answered, “Someday I’d like to be a vocal teacher!” His reply was so funny to me. All he said was, “Interesting!”  

I guess my answer was not very typical. Teaching voice was not the only thing I wanted to do with my singing, but it really had been a dream of mine. Voice teachers get to spend their time with students and music- which sounds perfect to me.

When I was younger I would come home from my lessons and figure out the scales on the piano and imagine what it would be like to be a voice teacher. Now that I actually am teaching lessons, it’s just as fun as I always thought it would be!

However, becoming a vocal teacher was not always set in my plans. I had a big goal to go to college and earn a bachelor’s degree, and like every young college bound person I had to eventually choose a school and a major.  I deviated from the possibility of being a vocal teacher for a while and was interested in the idea of music therapy after doing some research.

Thankfully, I was given an opportunity to shadow a music therapist before I went ahead and applied to schools with a music therapy program.  I shadowed a music therapist at a center for intellectually disabled children. It really was amazing, and I could see the positive effect of the music on these children.

As I was driving home from the job shadow, I was thinking about my future and if I wanted to become a music therapist.  I loved the positive impact that the therapy had on those kids. But almost all at once, I had several realizations hit me. I felt that music therapy was not the path I needed to take. I also felt very strongly that I needed to become a vocal and music teacher.  A wave of gratitude came over me for my music and dance teachers in my life. I wanted to be a positive force like they had been for me.

That all happened four years ago- and here I am approaching my college graduation in Business, Entrepreneurship.  This has been a wonderful topic of study that will support my dreams: to teach voice, and always have music be an important part of my life.  

Even though its been four years since that drive home from the job shadow, my feelings are still the same.  I am a voice teacher because I want to inspire my students through music, and help them reach their goals. (Just as my teachers did for me!)

Much Love,

-Carli